The Meridian Gate is the southern gate of the Forbidden City. It is also the main gate of this imperial city and the largest of the four gates of the Forbidden City. Built in 1420, it has a history of nearly 600 years. The plan of the Meridian Gate is in the shape of a ‘concave’. On the city platforms extending forward on the east and west sides of the main tower, there are two square pavilions respectively, echoing the central main tower.
It looks like a rosefinch spreading its wings. Therefore, the Meridian Gate is also known as the ‘Five Phoenix Tower’. At the same time, it echoes the tradition of palaces of successive dynasties in China, that is, the Vermilion Bird Gate in the south is the main gate of the imperial palace. The Meridian Gate tower has five gates leading to the inner city. There are three gates in the middle of the tower. There is also a side gate on each side of the city platform. The gate in the middle of the tower is the ‘imperial road gate’ for the emperor to enter and exit. Except for the reigning emperor, only when the empress enters the palace in a sedan chair on her wedding day and when the number one scholar, second place, and third place in the palace examination leave the palace can they walk through it once, showing the special preferential treatment given by the emperor. Princes and dukes enter and exit through the west gate slightly to the west of the middle. Civil and military officials enter through the east gate slightly to the east. The side gates at the corners of the city platform are only opened on grand court days. The Meridian Gate is also a place where the emperor often holds important ceremonies. In case of a large-scale ceremony of triumphant return and presenting captives, the emperor will ascend the tower of the Meridian Gate to receive worship, fully displaying the imperial majesty. In the Ming Dynasty, the ‘flogging of court officials’ by the emperor was also carried out here. The saying ‘beheading outside the Meridian Gate’ that we often hear in TV dramas is adapted from ‘flogging’. In fact, the beheading place is at Xisi and Caishikou in Beijing. Now the central tower of the Meridian Gate has been opened as an important exhibition hall of the Palace Museum. Opening hours: From April 1 to October 31, open from Tuesday to Sunday, 08:30 – 17:00; From November 1 to March 31, open from Tuesday to Sunday, 08:30 – 16:30; Closed all day on Mondays throughout the year; Open from 08:30 – 17:00 on Tomb Sweeping Day, Labor Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and National Day; Open from 08:30 – 16:30 on New Year’s Day and Spring Festival.Meridian Gate
The Meridian Gate is the southern gate of the Forbidden City. It is also the main gate of this imper[...]
